Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Spend, Spend, Spend

House Democrats unveiled a $410 billion spending bill on Monday to keep the government running through the end of the fiscal year, setting up the second political struggle over federal funds in less than a month with Republicans.

The measure includes thousands of earmarks, the pet projects favored by lawmakers but often criticized by the public in opinion polls. There was no official total of the bill's earmarks, which accounted for at least $3.8 billion.

The legislation, which includes an increase of roughly 8 percent over spending in the last fiscal year, is expected to clear the House later in the week.

We're being spent into oblivion. Again, where are the tough choices? Where is the sacrifice and the new way of doing things?

The really sad part is that I am not at all sure how outraged Americans are over this. I suspect that a sizable number, perhaps even the majority, look at this as a great thing, like the government is playing the role of Santa Claus handing out free gifts. Given that so many of us reap government benefits while paying little tax it is a perfectly rational attitude.

And then there's this:

In another change, the legislation bans Mexican-licensed trucks from operating outside commercial zones along the border with the United States. The Teamsters Union, which supported Obama's election last year, hailed the move.

The Bush administration backed a pilot program to permit up to 500 trucks from 100 Mexican motor carriers access to U.S. roads.

Again, more economic discrimination against foreigners by the Democrats. And this is the crowd that says they are going to restore our standing in the world or whatever.

The only good thing in this bill is that is relaxes travel restrictions to Cuba and expands the sale of food and medicine to the island, but that's a small consolation.